Presidential Memorandum Delaying Proposed and Pending Regulations

The President has authority, under Article II, § 3 of the Constitution, to direct executive agencies to postpone proposed and pending regulations for a 60-day period.

Even where a regulation has been published in final form, the Administrative Procedure Act does not require an agency to follow notice and comment procedures in connection with a temporary postponement of its effective date, since such a postponement will not generally be regarded as a rulemaking. Even if it were so regarded, an agency will in general have good cause for dispensing with notice and comment procedures where a new President is assuming office during a time of economic distress.